From A Mid-America Regional Council New ReleaseFirst Nationwide Test Of Emergency Alert System
Scheduled For Wednesday, November 9, 2011

For years, local television and radio stations have periodically tested the Emergency Alert System with familiar tones followed by “This is a test…,” but on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, for the first time ever, a nationwide test of the alert system will take place.

While the Emergency Alert System is often used by state and local emergency managers for weather warnings, it has never been used or tested at a national level. “In a major disaster that affects large areas, such as an earthquake, this system could be used to broadcast life-saving information very quickly,” said Chuck Thacker, chief of the Grandview, Missouri, fire department and chair of the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee. “We need a full-scale test to be sure that the system will work as intended when a nationwide alert goes out.”

At 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, radio stations, local television stations, wireline video services, and cable and satellite providers in the Kansas City metropolitan area will join other broadcasters across the country for a simultaneous test of the system. Although the test will be similar to the routine monthly tests most of us are familiar with, there are a few key differences:

• The nationwide test will last longer than normal — approximately three minutes.

• While the audio message will include the words “This is a test” and be the same for everyone, the video test may vary due to differing technologies. Viewers should be aware that the video messages may or may not include the words “This is a test” in the background image or scroll at the bottom of the screen.

• The test will be conducted through broadcast media only — it will not include NOAA weather radios, mobile devices or outdoor warning sirens.

The nationwide Emergency Alert System test will be conducted jointly by the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Communications Commission and National Weather Service. These agencies selected the date, November 9, because it is near the end of hurricane season and before the severe winter weather season begins. The time (1:00 p.m. central) was selected to occur during working hours in time zones across the nation, minimizing disruption by avoiding traffic rush hours.

“We hope everyone in the metro area will take this opportunity to think about what they would do in a real emergency,” said Bob Evans, emergency manager for Wyandotte County, Kansas, and vice chair of the Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee. “Do you have a family emergency plan, with a predetermined meeting place? Do you have emergency supplies on hand?”

The committee maintains a website, www.preparemetrokc.org, with preparedness tips for various types of disasters, as well as an online tool for creating a family plan. “The best time to prepare for a disaster is before it happens,” said Evans. “While the alert system can provide basic instructions during an emergency, we all need to take personal responsibility to make sure we’re ready.”

Missourians Urged To Participate In This Chance To Prepare For Real Emergencies

November 9 drill will be similar to local EAS tests, but will take place simultaneously on all stations across the country

State Emergency Management Agency Director Paul Parmenter invites Missourians to use next week’s first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System as an opportunity to prepare their homes for a real emergency.

The simultaneous nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) will take place at 1:00 p.m. Central time on Wednesday, November 9. Local television and radio stations regularly test EAS with a tone, followed by a message that starts with “This is a test…” The system will be tested for how it would be used in the event of a nationwide disaster. Missouri radio, television, cable and satellite radio and television providers will take part with broadcasters across the country in the test that will last for about 30 seconds. Normal programming will continue as soon as the test is concluded.

“We in emergency management encourage the public to prepare emergency kits at home with ample basic supplies for three days without power and water,” said SEMA Director Parmenter. “This is a good reminder to start a kit or to rotate out supplies that may be nearing their expiration dates.” Kits should include bottled water, canned and dry foods, battery-powered radio, flashlights, extra batteries, manual can opener, first-aid kit and a list of prescription medications used by family members.
More information about how to be prepared can be found at Missouri’s Ready In 3 website: http://health.mo.gov/emergencies/readyin3/

In addition to being conducted simultaneously on all stations, the public should be aware that the Nov. 9 test will differ from local tests in the following ways:

• While the audio message will mention that the EAS broadcast is a test and contain the same content everywhere, the video might not include the words “this is a test” and may vary because of differing technologies.

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Radio and mobile devices will not broadcast the EAS test.

The nationwide EAS test will be conducted by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and NOAA.